Media Notebook--10-4-24

MEDIA NOTEBOOK

A curation of news items about the media from this past week, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.

RADIO/PODCASTS

*Chicago Radio Ratings

=The September radio ratings are in, and these are the top ten rated radio stations in Chicago for the month…(6+, M-Sun, 6am-Mid)

WBBM-AM 6.0

WDRV 6.0

WVAZ 5.8

WXRT 5.0

WLIT 4.7

WLS-FM 4.6

WOJO 3.8

WUSN 3.8

WRME 3.3

WBMX 2.8

=If you add in the streaming ratings, the Score finishes with a 3.7, so they would be in the top ten as well.

=This is the first time WBBM-AM has been in first place in a long time (January ’22), although they are always near the top. (And in this case, they are actually tied for first)

=The biggest gain for the month goes to WLS-FM (+0.4), while the biggest drop was suffered by US-99 (-0.8). Both WDRV (-0.5) and WLIT (-0.6) also dipped a bit this month.

=A few notes outside the top 10. WCHI (95.5FM) had their best numbers ever for this current format (2.5), WBEZ has almost recovered from their record lows (back up to 2.5), and WTMX had their lowest numbers since 2003 (2.3). They are currently tied with WGN for 18^th place.

 

*Dean Richards

=Dean is the subject of my interview this month for Illinois Entertainer. We talked mainly about his role on the WGN-TV Morning News as that show celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

 

*Bart Shore

=The dean of traffic reporters in Chicago retired a few years ago and moved to North Carolina, which this week, has been ravaged by a hurricane and floods. He reported this news via his Facebook page…

=By the way, during an emergency like the one that just hit N.C., we remember the importance of local radio. By all accounts, local radio stations were a lifeline during the storm and its aftermath.

*FCC Approves Audacy Bankruptcy Plan

=The vote was along party lines (3-2 in favor), but despite the controversy of George Soros being the new owner of these 200-plus stations, the plan was approved. Just for the record, the vast majority of those stations are *not* political talk stations (For instance, in Chicago they own the Score, WXRT, WUSN, WBMX, and B-96, along with NewsRadio 78).

=Next step: Audacy is going private.

 

*New WGN Contributor

=The first Wednesday of every month…

 

*iHeart Jingle Ball Tour

=The tour hits Chicago on Monday, Dec. 9. WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) is sponsoring the show at Allstate Arena with Jack Harlow, Teddy Swims, Jason Derulo, Benson Boone, Madison Beer, Saweetie, NCT Dream and Wonho.

 

*Bob Heymann

=Chicago’s very own media broker Bob Heymann is quoted in the latest issue of Radio Ink.

 

*An Ode to Carts & Cassettes

=Strictly for the radio nerds out there. This piece is about those cartridges we used in the 1970s and 1980s. We called them carts.

=Would you believe that cassettes are making a comeback? It’s true. 

 

*Sista Strut

=The 8th annual Sista Strut for Breast Cancer is taking place tomorrow. iHeart stations put on this event and host it. Carla Ferrell, co-host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show; V103 midday host Bioncé Foxx; Sonya Blakey from Inspiration 1390; KeKe Hampton from KISS-FM and WGCI; and Val Warner from Channel 7 will be there. 

*Podcast Corner

=Storytellers Studio interviews WLS historian Scott Childers

=Someone is going hard for the young bro-vote, and that’s former president Donald Trump. He’s been doing a bunch of bro podcasts, including Logan Paul’s Impaulsive, This Past Weekend with Theo Von, and The Lex Fridman Podcast.

=The five most popular podcasts for kids.

=The Rich Eisen Network adds two new podcasts, one hosted by former NBA star Jim Jackson, and one hosted by Straight Outta Compton star O’Shea Jackson.

 

*Ford Frick Award Finalists

=The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the list of finalists for this year’s Ford Frick Award, the broadcasting wing of the Hall of Fame. Among the finalists this year, former Cub Mike Krukow (a broadcaster with the Giants) and Skip Caray (Harry’s late son).

 

*Rest in Peace

=Kris Kristofferson

Musician, singer, actor. One of the all-time greats. He was 88.

Kris Kristofferson, Country Music Legend and 'A Star Is Born' Leading Man, Dies at 88 https://t.co/BoHsfZijUw

— Variety (@Variety) September 29, 2024

*Music News

=Pink Floyd sells music rights to Sony for $400 million.

*Jeff Davis Remembers Pete Rose

=Jeff is a WLS Radio legend. His memories of Pete. RIP.

 

 

MEDIA BIRTHDAYS/MILESTONES

 

*September 29, 1952, Garfield Goose debuted on Chicago television, WBKB.

=The host was not Frazier Thomas. It was Bruce Newton. The first puppeteer for Garfield was the station secretary Leann Prineas. The show ran opposite Howdy Doody on NBC.

 

*September 29-- Diann Burns birthday

=Former Channel 2 & 7 anchor. She was an Emmy winner as a newscaster, but I recently also spotted her in the film Richie Rich. 

 

*September 29—Cindy Morgan birthday

=The star of “Caddyshack” was a DJ in Chicago (WSDM) before heading west to Hollywood. She passed away last year.

 

*September 30—Pat Cassidy birthday

=Former WBBM-AM and WMAQ-AM morning news anchor. I’ve previously interviewed him a few times, including this one in Illinois Entertainer in 2020.

 

*September 30--Java Joel Murphy birthday

=Formerly with Kiss-FM. I talked to him during his Chicago heyday back in 2008 for Chicago Radio Spotlight.

 

*September 30--Amy Landecker birthday

=The talented offspring of John Landecker is a successful actress in Hollywood now. She has been in 88 different movies or television series including the Emmy-winning Transparent, and the Academy-Award nominated Coen Brothers film A Serious Man. She’s also been on my podcast.

 

*September 30--Carol Harmon birthday

=Carol was Jonathan Brandmeier’s producer for many years and is very highly regarded.

 

*September 30--Art Vuolo birthday

=Radio’s Best Friend

*October 1^--Norm Winer birthday.

=Norm was the driving force behind WXRT for many decades. He’s currently the co-founder and chief content curator at Noteworthy.

 

*October 2—Dave Fogel birthday

=Morning man at WLS-FM. I have interviewed Dave several times, including this one in the Illinois Entertainer.

October 2^-- Michelle Damico birthday.

=Former WBEZ broadcaster

 

*October 2—Edward Glab birthday

=Former supervising engineer at WLS Radio.

 

*October 2, 1950

=Peanuts debuts as a comic strip.

 

*October 3, 1995

=OJ Simpson acquitted of murder by a jury in Los Angeles.

 

*October 4—Mark Konkol birthday

=Former writer for the Chicago Sun Times.

 

*October 4—Pete Kastanes birthday

=Pete is the administrator of Vanished Chicagoland Facebook group.

 

*October 5, 1947

=President Harry Truman gave the first televised address to the nation from the White House. The topic was the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Europe.

 

 

TV/STREAMING

 

*How to Get Chicago Sports Network

=It debuted this week (on Tuesday), but where on Earth can you find it? This article has an explanation.

=Some of the programming offered by CSN was announced this week as well, including the addition of WSCR’s David Haugh.

 

*Familiar Chicago Face on CNN

=Yes, that was former media writer Robert Feder on CNN last weekend…

 

*Jason Benetti

=Imagine going from the worst team in baseball to a playoff team. That’s what broadcaster Jason Benetti did this season, going from the White Sox to the Tigers. In an interview with the Sun Times, Jason says he has found a new home in Detroit.

 

*All-Star SNL This Season

=Dana Carvey as Biden, Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, and Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff will be part of the SNL cast all season. They debuted on Saturday.

 

*VP Debate Ratings

=43 million tuned in for Vance and Walz. Those numbers are down 25% from the 2020 VP debate. The Harris/Trump debate had nearly 70 million viewers.

=The 50 best jokes about the debate.

 

*Dish and Direct TV merger

=They have been trying to do this for years…

 

*New York Times interviews John Oliver

=Very entertaining interview in last Sunday’s edition. 

 

*Melania's Publisher Asks for $250,000 Fee for Interview

=I have clearly been doing this publisher thing all wrong. Melania Trump's publisher said that Melania would agree to an interview with CNN if they paid her $250,000. Needless to say, that interview will not be taking place.

*Cable News Corner

=CNN Wades Back into the Documentary Business

=CNN.com’s paywall

 

*Dick Vitale inducted into Hall of Fame

=Getting difficult to keep track of all the different Halls of Fame who have recognized him. This one is the Broadcasting Cable Hall of Fame.

 

*Rest in Peace

=Dame Maggie Smith

Star of stage and screen (Downton Abbey). She was 89.

=John Amos

Star of Good Times, Roots, and many others. He was 84.

=Frank Fritz

Host of American Pickers. He was 58.

=Drake Hogestyn

Days of Our Lives star. He was 70.

=John Ashton

Actor best known for Midnight Run and Beverly Hills Cop. He was 76.

John Ashton has sadly passed away at the age of 76. pic.twitter.com/zhToT7VMDw

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 29, 2024

 

DIGITAL/PRINT

 

*Sun-Times Editor’s Note in Jefferey Leving Story

=The “Dad’s rights” attorney was suspended from practicing law because he charged exorbitant fees to his clients. When the Sun-Time reported the news, they included this editor’s note. It wasn't hidden. It was a box inside the article.

 

*Olivia Nuzzi Story Gets Even Stranger

=According to this piece in the Washington Post, she thinks that her ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza (who writes for Politico) is responsible for the leak of her “relationship” with RFK, Jr. She has filed a restraining order against him. Lizza has been asked to take a leave of absence at work.

 

*The Onion is Pivoting to Video

=And they’ve hired a former MSNBC anchor to deliver their “news”.

 

*Jimmy Carter at 100

=I think this is my favorite trivia about Carter. He’s the only former president to have written more books than he had books written about him.

 

*Margaret Sullivan Critiques the Media

=There aren’t many full-time media writers these days, so I always check out the substack of this long-time media critic/writer. This week’s column is a sharp critique of how the media covered Trump’s unhinged speech in Wisconsin.

=Bill Moyers Agrees with Sullivan

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA/TECH

 

*X (Twitter) Worth 80% Less than when Musk Bought It

=Maybe not such a genius after all.

 As always, if you have any media story you’d like to share or think that I might be interested in sharing, drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com. If you're in Chicago media and wondering why I didn't mention your birthday, it's probably because I don't know it. Drop me a line and let me know and I'll put you on my calendar.

20 Years: Freelance Highlights

 

This year marks my 20th year as a professional writer. Over the course of 2024, I'll be sharing a few of those offerings you may have missed along the way.

For about ten years I wrote for various different entities owned by Lee Publishing, including the NWI Times, NWI Parent, Get Healthy Magazine, Shore Magazine (and a few others I can't remember). They were really good to me, gave me some great exposure, and basically let me write whatever I wanted. It was a wonderful freelance gig that ended when editor Pat Colander left the company.

I think my all-time favorite assignment was going to the Marche region of Italy. I even got to take my wife Bridget along (on my dime). This is just one of the articles I filed from that trip. The day I went truffle hunting...

One of the things we did in Italy was go on a truffle hunt.  Truffles aren’t grown. They are found. We were only briefed that we’d need to wear the proper footwear—preferably boots we didn’t mind getting muddy, and that we’d be traveling to the village of Acqualagna.

A quick look at the map let us know that the ride might be a bumpy one, and it certainly was. Acqualagna is seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but the journey from our hotel on the Adriatic Coast of the Italy’s Marche Region to our destination was an incredibly picturesque ride through the spectacular Furlo River Gourge, and the rolling hills of Italy.

When we arrived in the village, it was obvious we were in a place that was famous for their truffles. References to truffles could be seen everywhere.  We pulled into the compound of our truffle hunter, Giorgio, who also doubled as the town’s Chief of Police, and immediately heard the dogs barking. Giorgio had dozens of them, all in various stages of truffle hunting training. He filled us in on the training technique as his assistant fetched his prize truffle dog.

“The dogs have very developed senses of smell,” he told us through the interpreter, “but they also have a very good sense of taste.”  He was smiling as he spoke. “They know good truffles when they smell them, so the trick is to make sure they don’t eat them too. With the finest white truffles going for 3000 Euros a kilo, that’s like eating money!”

We met the star of today’s truffle hunt, the most famous truffle hunting dog in the entire region, Chicca (Photo above). Her travels have taken her around the world, including a visit to the White House at the tail end of the Clinton Administration.

“How much is Chicca worth?” Bridget asked.

“She is not for sale!” Giorgio replied.

“I know,” I said, “I’m just curious how much she would be worth if...”

“Not for sale,” Giorgio said once again. He looked like he had been asked to part with one of his children.

Giorgio released Chicca from her leash, and we followed.

“She knows where to look,” Giorgio said as we slowly trotted behind her. “At the base of the trees. The white truffles are up to sixty centimeters under the ground, but it is not yet white truffle season. It is the tail end of the black truffle season, so those will be a little easier to find, only ten to twenty centimeters under the ground.”

Our amazing truffle hunting dog stopped abruptly at the base of a small oak tree and started digging. Giorgio saddled up beside her and crouched on a knee. “Aha, see here, she has found one.”

After he wiped the dirt off, he held it up for all to see. It still looked like a black clump of mud in his hand, but when he passed it around, we could immediately smell the fine musky aroma of the black truffle. For the next thirty minutes or so we followed Chicca around as she dug for gold. We began to figure out where to look, so we started hunting for them too.

“I found one!” Bridget said.

Giorgio looked at the clump she had in her hand. “Ah,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “That is a brown truffle.”

“A brown truffle?” she asked.

“Yes, probably the droppings of a porcupine or a wild boar.”

She dropped it immediately.

Perhaps it was best to leave the truffle hunting to the professionals.

***

I wrote cover stories for all of these issues...

***

A Cubbie Bonus...

Forgotten Cub Harry Steinfeldt should be just as famous as the other members of his infield, Tinker, Evers & Chance. So much so, I wrote a poem for him in EveryCubEver...

An Ode To Harry…It seems only right that someone should write a poem about Harry Steinfeldt. With apologies to Franklin P. Adams, here is my contribution…

The poem by Franklin P. Adams definitely enhanced,

The Hall of Fames chances of Tinker, Evers & Chance,

But the other name in that infield has been lost to time,

Just because Harry Steinfeldt’s name didn’t rhyme,

He hit for more power, he drove in more runs,

He made fewer errors, and when the game was to be won,

They leaned on Harry Steinfeldt, the World Series MVP,

Though his name was a mouthful, depriving immortality

Studio Walls--10-2-24

 

A weekly update/preview of my latest podcasts, and a look back at some of my previous audio work from this week in history over the past 40+ years.

Here are a few from the archives...

September 29—Jeff Gentile birthday 

=We interviewed the co-author of Mob Adjacent in this episode. 

September 29—Mark Farner birthday

=We interviewed the leader of Grand Funk Railroad in this episode  

 

September 30—International Podcast Day

=Lots of choices for you to celebrate this day on this page.

September 30--Amy Landecker birthday

=Amy is a long-time friend. Daughter of John. And now a film and television star. Fun interview.  

September 30—Dr. Phil Plait birthday

=The world's most famous astronomer is in this episode of the show.  

September 30, 2018—Debut of God Friended Me 

=The writer/creator of that show Steven Harper appeared on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview. 

September 30—Lance Lopez birthday

=We talked to the famous rock guitarist earlier this year. 

 

October—Bullying Awareness month. 

=We talked to two anti-bullying crusaders, Mark Pellegrino and Andrew Rossow in this episode. 

October 1, 1932—Babe Ruth’s “called shot” at Wrigley Field

=We have the audio.

October 1, 1962—The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson debuts. 

=Former Cub Carmen Fanzone told us his Carson story. 

October 1, 1996—House of Blues opens in Chicago. 

=Mike from Tours with Mike calls it Chicago's ugliest building.  

October 1, 1999—Elmo in Grouchland released

=Little Tommy Kaempfer reviews it. We have the audio.

October 1--Julie Andrews birthday

=My story about Julie is in this episode. 

October 1—Rod Carew birthday

=Eric Soderholm told us a great story about his ex-teammate.  

 

October 2—Sting birthday

=This episode features my story about Sting.   

October 2—Erik Fellows birthday

=We interviewed the actor in this episode. 

 

October 3, 1995--OJ Simpson is Acquitted of Murder

=If it happened in the 1990s, I have written a parody song. In this case, I've written about a dozen. I suspect we might play one this week. 

October 3, 2006—Friday Night Lights debuts.

=One of the stars of that great show, Louanne Stephens, was a fun and friendly interviewee.  

October 3—Von Freeman birthday 

=Jazz musician Kurt Elling has a great story about his fellow jazz musician and what he once taught him in a bar.  

 

October 4--Charlton Heston birthday

=My story about meeting Moses is in this episode.

October 4—John Denicola birthday

=We interviewed the famous songwriter in this episode. 

October 4—Beverly Hills 90210 debuts

=Stacy Widelitz wrote the show's original theme song.  

Publishing Portal--October 1, 2024

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

Happy Birthday! 

=Four Eckhartz Press authors are celebrating birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Mob Adjacent author Jeff Gentile (September 29), Chili Dog MVP co-author Dr. David Fletcher (September 30), 1001 Train Rides in Chicago author Richard Reeder (September 30), and Signature Shoes author Ryan Trembath (October 4).

 

 

 

=Want to hear some podcast interviews with the birthday boys? Listen to Jeff talk about Mob Adjacent. Listen to Ryan talk about Signature Shoes. Listen to Dr. David Fletcher talk about Chili Dog MVP.

New Book Release!

Worth a Second Look

Worth a Second Look is the book that every movie fan should have at their disposal when they can’t find anything to watch. Super Movie Fan and author of Oscars Biggest Mistakes Eric Litt handpicked 200 films that are either underrated, a forgotten hit, a hidden gem or a guilty pleasure from the past 50 years. This book is full of recommendations for terrific films that deserve to be seen again from almost every genre from action to comedy to horror to holiday. There is something in this book for everyone. (Available for pre-order now)

Another New Book Release!

Staying Alive is a lot of Work

One day Pat Camalliere was finally enjoying her family, newfound success as a historical mystery writer, and singing in a classical chorus, passions she had put off during her forty-year career in medical administration. The next day she found herself struggling to survive after being diagnosed with advanced tongue cancer. With knowledge gained from a lifetime in the field of medicine, as a writer of character driven novels, and as a cancer patient herself, Camalliere walks readers through slices of her life growing up in Chicago, relating moving experiences with detail and humor, demystifying the day-to-day struggles of a cancer patient in a way few can do. There is no one better to explain the cancer experience from diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiation, through side effects and recovery. Although staying alive is a lot of work, personal efforts to understand cancer and the people who treat it can ease the journey to recovery. This memoir will benefit anyone who has or has had cancer, their loved ones, and all who treat and support cancer patients. (Available for pre-order now!)

Meta Stories

=Meta Stories is one of our stellar 2024 releases. This week we had a chance to sit down with author Dr. Joe Novak and talk about the book. The Q&A is here.

*To Nudge the World

=Another successful book launch...

AWARD SEASON!

=This week in 2017 (October 3), two of our books were named finalists for CWA Book of the Year. We Have Company by Bobby Skafish in the non-fiction category, and Out the Door! by M.L Collins in the fiction category. 

=The same week in 2017 (October 5), Eckhartz Press author Randy Richardson received a national award. 

=This week in 2018 (October 5), two more of our books were named finalists by the Chicago Writers Association for Book of the Year. Doin the Cruise by Mitch Michaels and Ken Churilla in the non-fiction category, and Safe Inside by Lee Kingsmill in the fiction category.

=This week in 2020 (October 2), Roger Badesch's book The Unplanned Life was also named a finalist for Book of the Year.

The Loop Files

=Our top selling book is still making the rounds...

Nose Over Toes

=Janet Sutherland was on WLS Radio last week to promote her annual walk for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Thanks so much to Ray Stevens for having her on his show. You can listen to it here.

=Janet was recognized at this weekend's walk (the 10th annual) for her tireless work as the foundation's Ambassador for the past twenty years. A letter of thanks and recognition from Congressman Sean Casten was presented to Janet at the walk. Congrats to Janet!

Behind the Glass

=Rest in Peace, Pete Rose. Randy Merkin writes about his encounter with the all-time hits leader in his book Behind the Glass. Here's a video of Randy telling that story...

RIP Pete Rose. I will never forget the Lunch with a Legend with @TWaddle87 and @WaddleandSilvy! Thanks for the memories. pic.twitter.com/xr25EcIwqW

— randymerkin (@randymerkin) October 1, 2024

EveryCubEver

=This week in 2008 (October 5), EveryCubEver author Rick Kaempfer was interviewed by CBS-2 TV just as the Cubs were ending their playoff run. At the time Rick was still concentrating on his Just One Bad Century website. It would be another ten years before EveryCubEver was completed. The sixth edition is out now. Working on the 7th edition for next Opening Day.

We Have Company

=This week in 2016 (September 30), Bobby Skafish held the launch party for his book We Have Company. It was a star-studded event at Toons on Southport Avenue. In the photos below with Bobby...Greg Solk, Rick Kaempfer, Johnny Mars, Emily Skafish, Dane Placko, and David Stern.

 

=Also, two of the rock stars featured in Bobby's book are celebrating birthdays this week. Live Aid's Bob Geldof (October 5), and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsay Buckingham (October 3, photo below)

Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars

=Speaking of rock stars, the immortal Jerry Lee Lewis was born this week in 1935 (September 29). Bill Paige features an interview with the Killer in the pages of his book.

=This week in 2022 (October 4), Bill Paige made a return trip to Chicago (He now lives in Thailand) and played a gig on the North side of the city. Eckhartz Press publisher Rick Kaempfer was there to cheer him on.

Pat Cassidy

=For years Pat Cassidy reigned supreme on the Chicago airwaves as the morning co-anchor at WBBM-AM (with Felicia Middlebrooks). He also managed to find his way into two Eckhartz Press books. That's Pat in Rich King's memoir Ike & Me (along with fellow WBBM pros Jim Benes and Bernie Tafoya), and there's Pat in Mitch Michael's memoir Doin The Cruise. Two very different books, but with one significant similarity...Pat Cassidy. Pat's birthday is September 30.

Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind

=This week in 1971 (October 1), the Chicago Reader was founded. The Reader has been a champion of Eckhartz Press author Vicki Quade her entire career. This is the quote they provided for Vicki's book Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind...

• “I love observational journalism. When a writer simply listens and watches, and interprets a story through their senses. Chicagoan Vicki Quade is that kind of writer. She beautifully captures the small nuances of movement and conversation that make Chicago what it is—a city of people, a city of neighborhoods, and a city of a million stories, big and small.”

  — Tracy Baim, publisher, Chicago Reader

=By the way, Vicki has a new stage show: Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins, & Games, coming to the Beverly Arts Center for one performance only, Friday, October 18, and to the Madison Street Theater in Oak Park, on Sunday, October 27.

Truffle Hunt

=Today (October 1) is World Vegetarian Day. We have a few vegetarian authors at Eckhartz Press, but only Brent Petersen incorporated that into his novel (Truffle Hunt).  Before he even wrote that fun foodie novel, Brent explained his vegetarianism in this essay. The money quote: “I am not a vegetarian because I love animals, I am vegetarian because I hate plants.”

Life Behind the Camera

=Not to brag, but how many authors have a photo of Sting (born October 2) holding a copy of their book? Chuck Quinzio has one. 

Brandwidth

=Media strategist Kipper McGee appeared on a podcast this week in 2017 (October 2) to discuss his book about the media, Brandwidth. The podcast is called Voices of Vision. 

Cubsessions

=One of the most popular Cubs podcasts is called Club 400, and this week in 2018, Cubsessions co-authors Randy Richardson and Becky Sarwate appeared on the show to talk Cubs. You can still listen to it here.

Transatlantic Passage

=One of the most colorful soccer players of all-time, Zlatan, is celebrating a birthday this week (October 3). Paul Banks writes about Zlatan in his Eckhartz Press book. He also once got close enough to the legend to snap this photo...

The Unplanned Life

=This week in 1979 (October 4), Pope John Paul II came to Chicago to make a few appearances. Eckhartz Press author Roger Badesch was there covering the event as a newsman at WKQX. His report from that time, which is found in the pages of The Unplanned Life, includes a description of what it was like hanging out in a scrum of reporters outside the Cardinal's house (where the Pope was staying). Roger passed the time waiting for his Holiness by doing "latch-hook." He created something for his daughter's room.  

=This week in 2021 (October 5), shortly after his book was released, Roger announced his retirement from WGN. 

Embrace Retirement

=This week in 2018 (October 4), Russ Fahrner (far left) and Bruce Bohrer (far right) appeared on WCGO with Bill Turck to talk about their retirement book...

Tony LaRussa

 =The former White Sox manager, who is celebrating a birthday this week (October 4), has appeared in multiple Eckhartz Press books. You'll find him in the pages of Ike & Me by Rich King, as well as in the book Your Dime My Dance Floor by Chet Coppock. Both books have pictures of LaRussa as well...(notice Jerry Reinsdorf is in both pictures too)

 

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=This week in 2018, Chet unveiled the promo video for his book...